Washing-machine



T. N. BROWN.

WASHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION F-ILED MAY 13, 1919.

1 ,330,679. I Patented Feb. 10, 1920.

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WASHING MACHINE..

APPLICATION EILED MAY 13L 19mu Patented Feb. 10, 1920.

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Thomas l/f Br m Qliurucgs THOMAS N. BROWN. OF SIDNEY, OHIO.

' WASHING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 10, 1920.

Application filed Ka 13. 1919. Serial No. 256.823.

To a]? who)" it may concern Be it known that I. THOMAS N. Brown, a citizen of the Fnited States. residing at Sidney. in the county of Shelby and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Washin -Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear. and exact description of the invention. such as will enable others skilled in the artto which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to mechanically driven washing machines and more particularly to domestic washing machines.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a substantial, simple. eflicient washing machine which may be operated from any suitable source at a minimmn consumption of power.

Another object of the present invention is to improve the construction of the operating mechanism. and to provide a peculiarly shaped tub of eflicient and rapid action for washing the clothes or other articles which may be placed in the tub.

A further object of the present inventio is to provide. in combination with the washing machine. a driving mechanism including a motor and the mechanism driven thereby and combining itwith a safety device in Y order to protect the driving motor. espethe crank shaft including a clutch.

cially when the same is of the electric type. against injury in the event that for any cause there is an undue resistance to. the power from the motor.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine in which all of the parts are readily accessible for cleanings. rene al or adjustment if need be. With these and other objects in view as will be manifest to those versed in the art. the following specification describes one embodiment of the invention. which is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a erspect-ive view of a form of the machine with the gear casing omitted. -Fig. 2 is a fragmentarv detailed view of Fig. 3 is a face view of the crankdisk and a portion of the connecting rod. Fig. 4 is a cross. vertical section through i the tub.

plan and elevation respectively of the tub in its more near and horizontal positlon, the water belng ndlcated as quiescent.

Figs. 8 and 9 are diagrammatic views in plan and elevation indicating the movements of the water when the tub is turned toward the left on its supports.

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view in a cross vertical plan showing the convergence of the water in motion.

Figs. 11 and 12- are diagrammatic views in plan and elevation showing further movement of the water as the tub is turned beyond the angle indicated in Figs. 8 and 9.

It is to be understood that the accompany- .the construction and form here shown m which the tub has main parallel sides 33 of suitable length and height and which obviously may be made of any suitable material. The sidewalls 33 have parallel top and bottom edges and their ends are rounded in the from of half circles 4-4 so that the end walls of the tub form substantially half cylinders 66. This construction. find, facilitates the washing action upon the clothes in the tub when the latter is oscillated longitudinally and with a tilting motion which creates strong longitudinal waves which are over-turned, as clearly shown in Figs. 11 and 12. by the rounded ends of the tub. with the result that there is alternately a strong compression of the clothes when at the lower sition at the ends of the tub and conve ly a release of pressure upon such parts of the clothes being washed as may be at the uppermost tub ends: further. to secure a. squeezing or compressing action on the clothes during the movement of the same under their own momentum and also under the momentum of the water. I prefer to give the tub construction a contracted, transverse central dimension on the line A in Fig. 5, this being accomplished in any of various ways, such as for instan e as by ferent locations.

applying nearer bulk heads 7 of curved surface to inner sides of the tub. The effect of the use of the deflecting surfaces 77 is graphically represented in Figs. 8, 9 and 10.

A preferred form of mounting for securing an eflicient movement of the tub comprises supports here shown in the form of levers 101O mounted in pairs on parallel fulcrums as, for instance, on transverse shafts 1111, these being shown as mounted in the upper corners of suitable size frames 1212 which may be transversely connected to secure rigidity and are preferably provided with casters 13 enabling the ready transportation of the machine to dif- The levers 1010, in one pair, are so disposed that their outer ends may swing in similar paths about the axis of the supporting rods 11 and the two'pairs of levers are directed convergently and upwardly from the frame structure 1'212 and are connected by pivots 1313, which are respectively coaxial in each pair of levers and the axes of the pivots 13 are in the pairs of levers parallel so that in the normal position of the tub and levers, the tub is main tained with its bottom in a horizontal plane, and in order to automatically bring the tub to a normal horizontal position suitable means may be employed which act through the pairs of supporting. levers 1010 to stabilize the tub. A preferred form of this stabilizing means is illustrated as comprising a substantial contractile spring 15, the ends of which are connected at 16 to the adjacent ends of lever arms 17 which extend toward each other from the fulcrums or rods 11, and in the present form these stabilizing levers 17 are shown as integrally connected to the adjacent supporting levers 10-1O on one side of the machine. It will be seen that since the levers 10-1O are connected through the stabilizing spring and its lever arms 16 and since there is a positive connection between the upper ends of the coplaner levers 1010 through means of the tub bottom. that the remaining levers 1010 will automatically be brought to the proper angular position and may swing on the rods.

From the above it will be seen that the tub 2 can be oscillated through a path con. sisting of the compound paths of the swinging upper arms or levers 10, one end of the tub 2 tilting down as the pivot 13 of one pair of levers swing downwardly and inwardly, while the other end of the tub will be turned upwardly and outwardly by a reof such mechanism is shown herewith as comprising a pitman rod 18, connected as at 19 toone of the levers 10, the lower end of the rod being here mounted ona crank or wrist pin 19' set in a crank disk 20 on a short shaft '21 extending transversely of the frame and having on its outer end a worm gear 22 engaging the worm 23 on a worm shaft 24 suitably mounted on the frame or in a gear box which latter has been omitted for the purpose of clearness in order that the worm shaft 21- may be driven constant-1y without driving the crank connections. any suitable clutch may be provided, the lever of which is indicated at 25 for disconnecting the crank shaft from the driven shaft 24. Thus this shaft may be driven to drive the rolls R of a. wringer mechanism which may be provided with a clutch as 26 at any suitable location, the longer shaft being shown geared to an upper shaft 27 mounted to swing in a housing 28 on the frame 12, the lower end of the shaft 27 being provided with a worm wheel 29 engaging a worm 30 on the shaft 24.

One of the features of my invention is to provide connections between the driven shaft 24 and a suitable source of power such as the electric motor 31, whereby, in the eventof an undue resistance to the driving action of the motor then there will be a substantial disconnect-ion or slippage of the inter-related parts so that the motor will be protected.

A simple, inter-relating safety connecting mechanism between the motor shaft and the driven shaft 24. involves a driving pinion 32 preferably constructed of a material of high friction efliciency and engaging in this case the interior surface of a flanged wheel 33 secured on the adjacent end of the shaft 21. This not only achieves the desired purpose of a relatively simple drive means but further accomplishes a sufficient reduction -in speed as between the motor shaft and the driven shaft. The motor preferably is mounted on the frame structure and. as above indicated, since the frame is provided with casters 13, it is possible toreadily move the entire machine from place to place. but when the apparatus is to be utilized in the washing of clothes, in order to eliminate free movement of the organized structure .owing to the momentum of the oscillating tub, I provide adjustable jack-legs 35 at the corner posts of the frames, these legs being shown in the present case as provided with threads 36 engaging threaded portions '37 on the frame.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a washing machine, a tub, which is substantially oblong in plan, mounted upon the swinging ends of movable supports parallel to each other and having an axis disposed transverse to one axis of and below the tub and on opposite sides of a plane passing vertically through the tub.

In a washing machine, a tub, mounted upon oscillating supportsparallel to each the normal position of rest.

.4. In a washing machine, a tub, which is substantially oblong in plan, mounted uponi movable supports parallel to each other and disposed transverse to one axis of the tub and 1 on .opposite sides of a plane passing vertically through the center of the tub when 3 it is in the normal position of rest. said supports comprising relatively movable members connected by the tub. and means independent of the tub connecting the members and normally stabilizing them to sustain the tub in ahorizontal position when at rest.

5. In a washing machine, a tub. which is substantially oblong in plan, mounted upon movable supports parallel to each other and [disposed transverse to one axis of the tub and on opposite sides of a plane passing vertically through the center of the tub when it is in the normal position of rest, said supports comprising relatively movable members connected by the tub. and other means connecting the members and normally stabilizing them to sustain the tub in a horizontal position when at rest, said means comprising devices yieldingly' connecting the members and automatically acting to restore the tub to normal.

6. In a washing machine. a tub. and sup orting means therefor operative to alternately tilt the tub aboutits transverse axis, said means including pairs of levers on parallel axes below the tub and on opposite sides of a transverse plane paming vertically and medially through the tub.

T. In a washing machine, a tub, and supporting means therefor operative to alternately tilt the tub about its transverse axis, said means including levers on parallel axis on opposite sides of a transverse plane passing vertically and medially through the tub and the ends of which connected to the tub swing in arcs converging toward the plane of the axis, and elastic means connecting the levers to actuate them concurrently.

8. In a washing machine, a tub, and supportingmeans therefor operative to alternately tilt the tub about its transverse axis, said means including levers on parallel axes on opposite sides of a transverse plane passing vertically and medially through the tub and the ends of which connected to the tub swing across converging toward the plane of the axes. and elastic means connecting the levers to actuate them concurrently and to normally maintain the tub in a horizontal position of rest.

9. In a washing machine. a tub, and supporting means therefor operative to alternately tilt the tub about its transverse axis, said means including levers on parallel axes on opposite sides of a transverse plane passing vertically and medially through the tub and'the ends of which connected to the tub swing across converging toward the plane of the axes, and means connecting the levers to actuate them concurrently.

10. In a. washing machine. a tub, and supporting means therefor operative to alternately tilt the tub aboutits transverse axis, said means including levers on parallel axes on opposite sides of a transverse plane passing vertically and medially through the tub. elastic means connecting the levers to actuate them concurrently and to normally maintain the tub in horizontal position 'of rest. and

driving mechanism for the said means and including a safety device designed to protect the apparatus in event of undue resistance to the'driving agent.

11. In a washing machine. a tub, a set of levers arranged in upwardly convergent pails and pivotally connected to the bottom of the tub on parallel axes. parallel bearings for the pairs of levers. connections between the levers for normally maintaining the tub horizontal, a driving shafthaving a yielding safety device. and means connected .to the shaft for oscillating the levers and tilting the tub in alternate motions.

12. In a washin machine. a tub, a set of levers arranged in upwardly. convergent pairs and pivotally connected to the bottom of the tub on parallel axes. parallel bearings for the pairs of levers. connections between the levers for normally maintaining the tub horizontal. a driving shaft. and means connectedto the shaft for oscillating the levers and tilting the tub in alternate motions.

13. In a washing machine, a tub. a setof levers arranged in upwardly convergent pairs or pivotally connected to the bottom of the tub on parallel axes. parallel bearings for the pairs of levers, connections between the levers for normally maintaining the tub horizontal. a driving shaft having a yielding safety device. means connected to the shaft for oscillating the levers and tilt-ing III III

the hub in alternate motions, said means ining opposite ends which are interiorly conlevers arranged to swing on parallel axes becaved outwardly from each other so that low the bottom of the tub, said levers con- 10 when the tub is tilted alternately the mate- "erging upwardly toward each other, and rial being washed is alternately compressed driving means actuating the tub through the in the lowered end of the tub and then resaid supporting levers. leased from pressure as it is raised. In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

15. In a power-driven washing machine,

a tub supporting means comprising pairs of V v THOMAS N. BROWN. 

